Chapter 39 The Beauty's Admiration, Divinity's Oversight
"Constantine..."
"...?" The man, still contemplating on what sort of meals he'd give Zebellia, regarded the figure of Zamira who had been resting on the ground, raising up and staring at him through the darkness.
"What's wrong?" He didn't intend to switch guards as he still hadn't completely trusted either of them, but it would certainly not take long before he was able to give them his back.
"Can I talk something to you?" She spoke with a small stutter of insecurity.
"Just say it." Andre was already sleeping and the night was evident, he simply wondered what was the need for secrecy.
"I was wondering... if you would allow me to be your companion?" Still stuttering she threw her preposition, scared.
"Huh? what sort of companion?" He glared at her, 'It is not what I am thinking, right?'
[Pervert! Disgraceful!]
"I mean... your servant, or knight... whichever you prefer." She cleared the matter, what else could it be if not that?
"Do you want to pledge your allegiance to me?" He asked while smiling, what is this girl on about?
"Yes, I want to follow you." She requested with a serious expression and even managed to place her eyes on his again.
"Tell me your reasons." He said in a lax manner, it has been countless times that someone asked to be able to become his knight, servant, maid... most of the time he'd reject, that right is earned, not requested.
"You saved my life, your skills are top-notch, you're brilliant, confident... I-I have a hard time finding something you're not... I am simply impressed by your qualities, Constantine..." As if having dozens of reasons, she told them one by one.
"And how does that translate into you wanting to become my subordinate?"
"You're clearly new in this place, someone like you would need guidance... I want to offer that guidance, and in my case, I need someone that can teach me to be stronger... I not only want to learn from you but genuinely believe you will reach great heights, I want to be by your side when you do!" She knelt in front of him while the conqueror sighed.
"You didn't mention my magic."
"I am indeed impressed by your use of magic but, compared to your other qualities... it is not noteworthy." The beauty spoke and this comment of hers truly won his attention, as far as he knows in this world if you're not a magus is like you're a dump on the road, yet she's not interested in that?
He approached her and raised his chin, "Then what do you think my best quality is?" his eyes literally pierced hers and she couldn't help but blush.
"T-That..." Her lips opened and plucked out slightly before she bit them.
"That what?" He smiled and rubbed them.
"The fact that you can look to me in the eyes like that... you embraced me, you look at me straight in the face, you're not disgusted by me, that is the main reason... why I want to follow you... I don't have to conceal myself with you, it is... refreshing." Deciding to not beat around the bush, she spoke honestly.
"Why would I-" He once again rolled his eyes, again with this 'disgust' thing, if one thing he hated was when a bombshell wasn't confident in herself, it ruined her charm.
"Stop... you don't understand, when we're in the town you will see... women like me, they're not... seen with a good eye, just like you're called a 'pretty-boy' with disdain, that way, me too..."
"Do you see me as a disdainful pretty boy too?" He asked with a sarcastic smile, already aware of the answer.
"N-No! you're amazing! but you must understand, this is my current opinion of you, back when I met you... I thought you were some pretty boy that only works as a servant" Her eyes were staring at him with a new light.
Those feeble features and beautiful expression seemed to have gained a different contour, while coated with his previous glory, the current him didn't look weak, he looked full of gallantry and confidence, so much so that she had a hard time keeping her eyes away.
Constantine couldn't understand, why such a beautiful lady would consider herself, 'disgusting'... even if in this world weak-looking people were disdained, why would beauty be disdained?
[That Scarred God, Dior... perhaps he has something to do with it, or is some other god, the presence of divinities in a land greatly determines people's beliefs in their concepts and emotions... a world in which beauty is disdained, is not as odd as you might think, in fact... by appreciating her, in this place, you're the odd one...] Zebellia said, not concealing her wrathful tone from earlier.
'...' He remained silent, indicating for her to contextualize.
[Would you think that someone is normal in your world for playing together with pigs in the mud, getting himself dirty and eventually making love to them?] She squirmed at her own words.
'Of course not, that person is obviously a disgusting bastard...!' He even shivered at the thought.
[Well, such a person could be the proud emperor of a powerful multi-continental empire, so long as a God had imprinted such beliefs in that world... if in this world beauty is disdained, it is definitely the act of some rogue God that held those beliefs and implanted them into his worshipers] Zebellia concluded and by then Constantine had finally come to understand how bizarre the existence of a god truly was.
'That's ridiculous...'
Zamira saw how Constantine seemed to have a hard time considering it and thought she'd get rejected.
'As expected, my face...'
"I will accept you, but if you want to become my subordinate, there is something you have to do first."
"I will do it!" She said with determination and awaited her orders.
"You have to become a worshipper of the one and only living goddess of Sandoria!"
"Eh?"
"The almighty Goddess of Life, Aurelianne!!"
Constantine spread his arms like a psychotic priest.
It was time for him to start doing his job as a champion, and the perfect lab rat had presented herself in front of him in the form of a purple-haired beauty.
"..."
[...]
Now he, a non-religious had to persevere through the challenge imposed on him by fate, and turn the girl into a believer for his beloved buxom goddess.